Container and blank for same

ABSTRACT

A container made from corrugated paperboard or the like having sections attached to the end panels adapted to be folded inwardly to form a cover for the container and locking flaps attached to the ends of the covering sections which, when the container is erected, lie in abutting relationship and form a self-locking container requiring no tape, staples, or glue.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,912,155

Zastrow Oct. 14, 1975 CONTAINER AND BLANK FOR SAME 2,942,770 6/1960 Eichorn 229 33 2,995,290 8/196l Swanson et a]. [75] Inventor: Harold G. Zastrow, Minneapolis, 3 468 469 9/1969 Kossoff er al 229/33 Minn [ Assigneei Waldorf Corporafion, Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead Paul, Minn. Attorney, Agent, or FirmJerry F. Best [22] Filed: May 20, 1974 21 Appl. 190.: 471,366 57 ABSTRACT A container made from corrugated paperboard or the U.S. having ections attached to the end panels [51] Int. Cl. B65D 5/18 adapted to be f ld d inwardly to f a cover f the Field of Search 229/16 A, 16 R, 33, 35, container and locking flaps attached to the ends of the 229/36, 45 covering sections which, when the container is erected, lie in abutting relationship and form a self- References Cited locking container requiring no tape, staples, or glue.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,090 10/1958 Fallen 229/36 2 Clams 7 Drawmg F'gures US, Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,912,155

US. Patent Oct.14,1975 Sheet2of2 3,912,155

CONTAINER AND BLANK FOR SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to containers having completely enclosed top, bottom, side and end walls which are adapted to be erected from a single die-cut blank and without the use of conventional closure devices such as tape, staples, or glue.

2. Description of the Prior Art In general, shipping or mailing containers for articles are made as a tray with a separate cover or a tubular configuration with end closure flaps. Both these designs require stitching, glueing, stapling or tape to effect closure. A carton design avoiding these methods would be more reliable and economical. Also small loose parts are often shipped along with larger enclosed items in plastic bags or the like. The availability of plastic is now at a premium. A simple carton design, easy to erect without unnecessary costs, but which would nevertheless adequately hold the contents during shipment is needed in the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A one-piece container having top panel sections attached to the top of the end panels and adapted to be folded into abutting relationship to form the top of the container. Locking flaps extend from either side of these top panel sections and likewise fold into close edge abutting relationship to fix the entire container into position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled container embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view ofa die-cut blank adapted to be erected into the container as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blank shown in FIG. 2, shown partially folded to illustrate the method of folding to be employed;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view of the container shown in FIG. 1, taken along section lines 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container shown during assembly to illustrate the closing of the top sections;

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation view of the container as shown in FIG. 5, taken along section line 6-6;

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation view similar to FIG. 6 showing the top sections just prior to reaching the final position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The drawings show a container and blank for same preferably made from corrugated paperboard or some similar sheetlike material. The container includes a bottom panel 10, which is a generally rectangular center area in the die-cut blank, as shown in FIG. 2. Side wall panels 11 and 12 are foldably connected to opposite sides of the bottom panel along parallel fold lines 15 and 16, respectively.

Also attached to the bottom panel 10 are end panels 17 and 18 which are connected to opposite ends of the bottom panei 10 along fold lines 20 and 21, respectively. The end panels 17 and 18 are folded up to a position substantially perpendicular to the plane of bottom panel 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Corner flaps are foldably connected to either end of the side wall panels 11 and 12, and are designated 30, 31, 32 and 33. Corner flaps 30 and 31 are attached along fold lines 35 and 36 respectively, on either end of side wall panel 11. Similarly, corner flaps 32 and 33 are foldably connected along fold lines 37 and 38 at either end of side wall panel 12.

It should be noted in FIG. 2 that the fold lines 35 and 37 are set inwardly a short distance from fold line 20 to allow the corner flaps 30 and 32 to be folded inwardly of the end panel 17 and lie in overlapping relationship thereto without any crimping or distortion of the sheetlike material. This offset or spacing should be in relation to the thickness of the sheetlike material being used to insure a tight fit of all the parts. A similar spacing arrangement may be seen in FIG. 2 at the opposite end of the blank wherein fold lines 36 and 38 are set in from fold line 21.

The curved portion of the out which defines the side panel locking flaps from the end panels is designed simply to provide a smooth transition on the outside corners of the finished container. This curved line cut is shown in all four corners in FIG. 2 as 40.

The area which forms the top cover for the completed container is in two sections which lie in edge abutting relationship when in the final folded position. These top panel sections are shown in the drawings as 50 and 51 and are connected to the end panels 17 and 18 along fold lines 52 and 53, respectively. The combined length of the two top panel sections 50 and 51 should be equal to the distance desired to be spanned across the top of the container.

Top panel locking tabs are foldably attached to either lateral edge of the two top panel sections 50 and 51. Locking tabs 60 and 61 are hingedly attached along fold lines 62 and 63, respectively. Likewise, locking tabs 65 and 66 are hingedly connected along fold lines 67 and 68, respectively. The shape and dimensions of the various flaps and tabs are important for a tight fit to insure that no additional closure methods are necessary.

As an example it is preferable to have a slot-like spacing between the fold lines 52 and 53 and the adjacent edges of the locking tabs 60, 61, 65 and 66 so that in final folded position as shown in FIG. 4 and during assembly as shown in FIG. 3 the four locking tabs will fit snuggly against the bottom panel 10 and side wall panels 11 and 12 without crimping or distortion. The height of the locking tabs as shown in FIG. 2 should be equal to the internal depth of the container so the edges will be in contact with the surface of the bottom panel 10. Finally the abutting edges of the top panel locking tabs 60-65 and 61-66 should be in close contact as shown in FIG. 4. The invention as illustrated embodies top panel locking tabs wherein the abutting edges are parallel but at an angle from the perpendicular, or the plane of the end wall panels 17 and 18. It should be understood that the snug relationship of the folded container sections and the resistance to movement provided by the thickness of the paperboard at the edgeabutting locations provides the required stability after folding. While the thickness of the material can be varied, it is the resistance to sidewards motion between the abutting edges of the locking tabs 60-65 and 6l-66 which prevents disengagement of the locking tabs, and the close linear abutting relationship of the opposing pair of locking tabs which prevents upward rotational movement about the hinge fold lines 52 and 53.

The contact of the top panel sections 50 and 51 along the upper-most edges of the side panel locking flaps 30, 31, 32 and 33 insures the sidewalls 11 and 12 will stay in closed position,

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are included to help illustrate how the container is assembled. After first folding the corner locking flaps 30, 31, 32 and 33 inward, one of the combined end panel and top panel sections is folded into position inside the walls of the container. This firstfolded combined section is shown in the Figures as 18 and 51, however, either end may be folded in first. The edges of the remaining two locking tabs, shown in this case as 60 and 61 are then forced down between the side wall panels and the previously folded locking tabs and the top panel section 50 rotated into position. When the section 50 is in proper alignment, the edges of the two locking tabs are forced inward into close abutting relationship with the already folded locking tabs and a tight fit is achieved which does not permit the container to be opened.

in accordance with the Patent Statutes, l have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in CONTAINER AND BLANK FOR SAME; and while 1 have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim:

l. A one-piece, self-locking, completely enclosed container made from foldably sheet-like material such as corrugated paperboard, said container comprising:

a rectangular bottom panel;

rectangular end wall panels hingedly attached to two opposite ends of said bottom panel, said end wall panels adapted to be folded upward into substantially perpendicular relation to said bottom panel and said end wall panels extending in length a distance substantially equal to said opposite ends of said bottom panel;

rectangular side wall panels hingedly attached to opposite sides of said bottom panel, said side wall panels foldably upward to form the sides of said container substantially perpendicular to said bottom panel, said side wall panels extending in length a distance substantially equal to said opposite sides of said bottom panel, and extending upwards a distance substantially equal to the height of said end wall panels;

corner flaps hingedly attached to either lateral edge of each of said side wall panels adapted to be folded inwardly and like in overlapping relationship with said end wall panels, said end wall panels being on the outside of said container;

a pair of top panel sections, one each hingedly attached to the top edge of said end wall panels and foldably downward to lie in abutting relationship and form the top for said container;

two pairs of top panel locking tabs, one of said pair attached to opposite lateral sides of each of said top panel sections, said top panel locking tabs foldably inwardly and downward to lie in overlapping relationship with said side wall panels on the inside of said side wall panels, each of said locking tabs adapted to lie in close abutting relationship with the respective locking tab attached to the opposite top panel section and lying parallel to the same side wall panel; and

each said locking tab having the edge abutting the opposite top panel section locking tab formed at an oblique angle and parallel to the edge of the opposite abutting locking tab.

2. A die-cut blank adapted to be folded into a onepiece, self-locking, completely enclosed container made from foldably sheet-like. material such as corrugated paperboard, said blank comprising a substantially rectangular sheet of said material and including:

a rectangular bottom panel having parallel top and bottom sides and parallel ends defined by horizontal and vertical fold lines, respectively;

rectangular side panels attached to said top and bottom sides of said bottom panel along said horizontal fold lines and extending in length along said horizontal fold lines a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the length of said bottom panel;

corner flaps attached to either lateral edge of each of said side panels along vertical fold lines;

rectangular end panels located at either end of said bottom panel and attached thereto along said vertical fold lines;

a pair of top panel sections having a combined area substantially equal to that of said bottom panel, one each of said top panel sections attached to one of said end panels along vertical fold lines;

a pair of top panel locking tabs attached along horizontal fold lines to the top and bottom edges of each of said top panel sections, each of said locking tabs extending vertically a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the vertical height of said side and end wall panels, said locking tabs adapted to be folded inwardly and formed in length such that opposing locking flaps will lie in close edge-abutting relationship on the inside of said side wall panels; and

said pairs of locking tabs having outer lateral edges formed at an oblique angle and in parallel relationship. 

1. A one-piece, self-locking, completely enclosed container made from foldably sheet-like material such as corrugated paperboard, said container comprising: a rectangular bottom panel; rectangular end wall panels hingedly attached to two opposite ends of said bottom panel, said end wall panels adapted to be folded upward into substantially perpendicular relation to said bottom panel and said end wall panels extending in length a distance substantially equal to said opposite ends of said bottom panel; rectangular side wall panels hingedly attached to opposite sides of said bottom panel, said side wall panels foldably upward to form the sides of said container substantially perpendicular to said bottom panel, said side wall panels extending in length a distance substantially equal to said opposite sides of said bottom panel, and extending upwards a distance substantially equal to the height of said end wall panels; corner flaps hingedly attached to either lateral edge of each of said side wall panels adapted to be folded inwardly and like in overlapping relationship with said end wall panels, said end wall panels being on the outside of said container; a pair of top panel sections, one each hingedly attached to the top edge of said end wall panels and foldably downward to lie in abutting relationship and form the top for said container; two pairs of top panel locking tabs, one of said pair attached to opposite lateral sides of each of said top panel sections, said top panel locking tabs foldably inwardly and downward to lie in overlapping relationship with said side wall panels on the inside of said side wall panels, each of said locking tabs adapted to lie in close abutting relationship with the respective locking tab attached to the opposite top panel section and lying parallel to the same side wall panel; and each said locking tab having the edge abutting the opposite top panel section locking tab formed at an oblique angle and parallel to the edge of the opposite abutting locking tab.
 2. A die-cut blank adapted to be folded into a one-piece, self-locking, completely enclosed container made from foldably sheet-like material such as corrugated paperboard, said blank comprising a substantially rectangular sheet of said material and including: a rectangular bottom panel having parallel top and bottom sides and parallel ends defined by horizontal and vertical fold lines, respectively; rectangular side panels attached to said top and bottom sides of said bottom panel along said horizontal fold lines and extending in length along said horizontal fold lines a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the length of said bottom panel; corner flaps attached to either lateral edge of each of said side panels along vertical fold lines; rectangular end panels located at either end of said bottom panel and attached thereto along said vertical fold lines; a pair of top panel sections having a combined area substantially equal to that of said bottom panel, one each of said top panel sections attached to one of said end panels along vertIcal fold lines; a pair of top panel locking tabs attached along horizontal fold lines to the top and bottom edges of each of said top panel sections, each of said locking tabs extending vertically a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the vertical height of said side and end wall panels, said locking tabs adapted to be folded inwardly and formed in length such that opposing locking flaps will lie in close edge-abutting relationship on the inside of said side wall panels; and said pairs of locking tabs having outer lateral edges formed at an oblique angle and in parallel relationship. 